Board addresses tenure, testing

The Inland Lakes Schools Board of Education awarded tenure to elementary school teacher David McLellan with a unanimous vote at its meeting Monday.

It had been brought to the school’s attention that McLellan had been awarded tenure at his previous teaching position prior to coming to Inland Lakes Schools. He was hired at Inland Lakes August 31, 2011.

“That was shared with you when we did the tenure in the past at a previous board meeting, that one of our teachers acquired tenure sooner than someone we also hired at the same time, because they had been tenured at another district,” said Superintendent Fred Osborn. “And Mac (McLellan) brought it to our attention that he fits that same criteria so we are asking you to approve that now. It’s well deserved. He is a great teacher.”

It is the board’s policy to award tenure to teachers who have already acquired tenure status at another job in the state, after a probationary period at Inland Lakes of no more than two years.

Elementary School Principal Frank Holes, Jr., and Osborn both recommended McLellan be awarded tenure at the school.

“I would like to congratulate Mr. Mac on his achievement tenure here,” said board president Zack Skiera. “He is a great asset in our district.”

Also at the meeting Monday night, Osborn updated board members on the progress being made for student assessment tests in the upcoming school years.

“There’s a lot happening with student assessment,” he said. “This has to do with the MEAP and Smart Balance.”

Osborn said a proposed school finance bill requires the Michigan Department of Education to create a new assessment tool and to continue to use the MEAP test until the new test is developed. This is creating a lot of controversy.

One of the problems is that he MEAP test has pilot questions, which go to educators two years in advance so districts can prepare for the tests. However, educators do not currently have the pilot questions, because the MEAP test was scheduled to eliminated next year in favor of the new Smart Balance test.

Inland Lakes was granted a waiver for being a school that would participate in the Smart Balance testing.

The Smart Balance testing was created in cooperation with 30 different states, which were in favor of doing away with the MEAP test.

“The other piece that is a concern, and I shared this with you in the past, is that our waiver is in jeopardy if we don’t have the Smart Balance in place,” said Osborn. “It’s just hit a political buzz saw, so I am not sure how it’s going to play out, but at this point, we’re still scheduled to do the Smart Balance, but they have to pass it in order to do that apparently.”

Page 2 of 2 - In other matters at the meeting, the Young Fives program is no longer going to be considered by the state as planned retention in the kindergarten program.

One of the ways the state had discouraged districts from having pre-kindergarten classrooms was to make districts show the students who moved into the kindergarten classes as being retained a second year.

“We just received a letter from the state that they are no longer considering that a retention, they are actually adding a separate category to show those kids needed that and it was appropriate,” said Osborn. “The reason I think that is exciting is because it wasn’t too many years ago that the state was really trying to eliminate that 14th year of education essentially.”

By moving that away from a retention to its own category, it symbolizes that state officials understand the importance and appropriateness of the Young Fives program.

The new category will start being reported next year. Osborn said in his mind, this is a stamp of support from the state for the program.

“How surprising,” said Trustee Susan Hitts. “That’s good.”

Several members of the board also commented on the success of the play performed by the Inland Lakes Drama Club last week.

“When the curtain opened, the audience had the same response. You heard a combined gasp because the set itself was pretty amazing,” said Osborn. “Mr. Jacques and the drama kids did a great job building the set and also through the whole play. I’ve heard great things from many different directions about the play.”

Skiera said it was great to watch the play, as well as watch the young kids at the front of the auditorium watch the play and react.

Osborn also addressed a letter he received from a parent commending band director Richard Brand for the work he has done with the students throughout their time in his class.

The letter gives accolades to Brand for the influence he has on the students and how he does a great job connecting with them.